Has your veterinarian requested an ultrasound for your dog? There could be a number of reasons for doing so. An ultrasound can be used to diagnose a variety of sicknesses, and thankfully for your dog it is a painless process. An ultrasound uses sound waves to capture images of the inside of the dog. Some examples of the ways it can be applied are checking to see how a pregnancy is going for your pet and also determining what a suspicious growth might be. Your Vet will help you understand why the test is being requested and how you can prepare for the ultrasound to come. The following are some points to keep in mind.

No Surgery Required

Continuing with our example, If a mass has been found on your dog through palpation, using an ultrasound first will determine what the mass structure looks like. If it becomes clear that the mass is a benign issue, then your dog won't need surgery to figure out what the mass is. So in following this procedure of using an ultrasound first, your dog can avoid needless surgeries.

X-Rays & Ultrasounds go hand in hand

Ultrasounds are good for checking out masses and seeing internal organs, however it's not as effective when it comes to observing bones. If your veterinarian believes that a broken bone may be part of the problem, then you should expect your dog to get an ultrasound and an x-ray in order to get the best results.

 Preparing for the Ultrasound

Is your dog getting an ultrasound of the abdomen? Then for the best results, you should try to make sure the dogs bladder is full. Try not to allow them to urinate on their way to the test, otherwise you may be waiting several hours until the bladder is full again. Another thing to remember is that your dog needs to fast from food for 12 hours, so keep that in mind especially if the appointment is in the morning. It is ok for your pet to have water during the fast, the only issue is food, since it will be harder to do an ultrasound and get clear results. 

What to do if a biopsy is needed

What do you do if a mass is found? Well for one thing, your veterinarian may schedule a biopsy along with the ultrasound. If this happens, the area of the dog that needs to be checked must be shaved. Don't worry, this will be done during the procedure so you don't need to handle this yourself! What you will need to do however, is watch your dog for several days after the procedure to make sure there is no bleeding or swelling that occurs. Also keep in mind that if your dog was given anesthesia for the procedure, they will need time to recover from being groggy and tired. You will not be able to leave until your dog is able to easily walk around.

Hopefully these tips have been helpful for your and your pet! If you would like to receive more helpful advice, please contact keebovet.